@Enigma good; but I still don’t think he’s anywhere near a champion in waiting. As Brundle and DC have said before he lacks that last tenth – that little spark that differentiates champions from race winners; and race winners from just “good” drivers.

People give Rosberg a hard time. I’m not sure how much better he could have done in the cars he’s driven. He was such a consistent points scorer at Williams and has carried that on at Mercedes. He’s looking at being 7th in the WDC for the third time in a row which is the best possible when you haven’t been in a McLaren/Ferrari/Red Bull/Brawn.

It’s bleak but I don’t see any new people winning races this year or next. There’s too many very good drivers who have already won races for someone else to win. Unless Merc and Renault can bring a very much improved car for next season then expect the same 5 drivers winning next year. As for my prediction, the whole aim of the thread, I would probably say Rosberg if next years car is good enough. If not whenever a good driver can move to one of the bigger teams I.E Perez to Ferrari then don’t expect race winner #103 anytime soon

I think Rosberg or Di Resta. However, I can’t see Rosberg winning it until Mercedes produce a better machine, or there is a freak race (e.g. Monza 2008) and I can’t see Di Resta winning until he’s in something better such as a Mercedes (again previous circumstances apply).

I think now the next new winner will be Vergne. I think he’s slightly better than Ricciardo, and if Webber was to quit he could have a seat in a Red Bull, which isn’t bad.
It could be Ricciardo if he was promoted in Vergne’s place.
It could be Perez if Massa was to be replaced for 2013, and if the team can build a faster car than the F2012.
It could be either Hulkenberg or Di Resta if a seat was left vacant at Mercedes, but I don’t think it’ll happen too soon.

Should a new thread be opened, or just continue the discussion here? I’m guessing next might be Grosjean, but it is very difficult to judge. Or possibly Di Resta if he moves up to Mercedes next year. Although in that case it could equally be Perez in a Ferrari.

I believe that Perez is the most likely next new winner. I will be surprised if he doesn’t replace Massa at Ferrari in 2013 and it’s also just a matter of time when Ferrari will have a winning car again.

As for the Red Bull youngsters, it’s hard to say who and if any of both is going to be promoted to a Red Bull seat in 2013. But if either Vergne or Ricciardo gets there, then, of course, their chances of winning a race are high.

At the moment it looks like Schumacher is going to stay with Mercedes for at least one more year, I think he will want to taste the fruits of the last two years’ hard work himself. And I still don’t see Lotus as potential race winners.